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Original poster

What was the toe sucking scandal?

106 replies

justthingse · 30/12/2023 19:14

I am in my mid 20's so was not alive during the 90's when The Duchess of York was apparently seen as a disgrace by the public and media. Can someone who remembers that period tell me about the toe sucking scandal and whether the royal family banishing her for many years was seen as an appropriate response or if the tabloids over sensationalised her antics at the time?

OP posts:
Maireas · 30/12/2023 19:50

As pp have said, there was no Internet, no social media. Those headlines were huge and shocking news! The royals were in Balmoral and saw the images at the breakfast table!

Endoftetherweather · 30/12/2023 19:50

Seems like a non-event in 2023. Honestly, if a Kardashian did something like this now I’m sure it’d barely make the promo for the next tv show.

millymog11 · 30/12/2023 19:50

The scandal was that Fergie presented by the papers as a scapegoat as compared to Diana and the fact that they hung out with each other meant their reputations were apparently tarnishing each other.

Tacotortoise · 30/12/2023 19:51

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Or you could just, you know, put your hands up and admit you were wrong.

RedDoughnut · 30/12/2023 19:51

Is she back with Andrew now?
They were both at Sandringham

TruffleShuffles · 30/12/2023 19:52

Mumsnet comprehension skills at their best as usual. The OP isn’t asking what the scandal was so the smart arse Google comments are just making you look a bit thick. The OP is asking people who are of an age to remember it whether the reaction was seen as appropriate at the time.

I’ve heard of it but was much too young to know of it at the time and I’ve always thought it seemed like a huge overreaction so I’m also curious of other peoples thoughts on it.

Maireas · 30/12/2023 19:53

Endoftetherweather · 30/12/2023 19:50

Seems like a non-event in 2023. Honestly, if a Kardashian did something like this now I’m sure it’d barely make the promo for the next tv show.

A non event for a Kardashian in 2023.
For a royal? Topless and getting some foot attention from a gentleman? I suspect that would still make headlines.

WinnieTheW0rm · 30/12/2023 19:53

Willmafrockfit · 30/12/2023 19:45

she should have sued the long lens chaps

Yes, horrible conduct by the paps. The Palace did pit out a condemnatory statement.

The scandal wasn't so much that she had gone on holiday with her lover, or that he was licking her feet, but that the princesses were there (IIRC)

Maireas · 30/12/2023 19:53

At the time, @TruffleShuffles it was genuinely very shocking.
.

TheSunIsOutAndTheSkyIsBlue · 30/12/2023 19:53

RedDoughnut · 30/12/2023 19:51

Is she back with Andrew now?
They were both at Sandringham

She never left

She knows where her bread is buttered, that one!

But their girls seem very lovely so they must've done something right

Maireas · 30/12/2023 19:54

TheSunIsOutAndTheSkyIsBlue · 30/12/2023 19:53

She never left

She knows where her bread is buttered, that one!

But their girls seem very lovely so they must've done something right

Show quote history

Norland nannies and boarding school.

FrippEnos · 30/12/2023 19:55

The only thing that she did wrong was get caught, and even then (from memory) it was in an enclosed compound.

TruffleShuffles · 30/12/2023 19:57

Maireas · 30/12/2023 19:53

At the time, @TruffleShuffles it was genuinely very shocking.
.

Do you think if the same happened with a younger royal nowadays that there would be the same reaction? I just can’t see that it would.

Inlimoin50s · 30/12/2023 19:58

I was a live in nanny years ago in the cotswolds and the family knew Sarah well. She was always calling and often I'd taken messages. One day she was coming for lunch with 'company' and I was asked to leave for the day .

I as born in 1971 and was 19 then so i assume it was the toe sucker. I never mentioned it as didn't feel a big deal back then.

Maireas · 30/12/2023 20:01

TruffleShuffles · 30/12/2023 19:57

Do you think if the same happened with a younger royal nowadays that there would be the same reaction? I just can’t see that it would.

Show quote history

Possibly not, sexual scandals, involving women, were always big news. A royal woman? Huge. I remember being on the underground and everyone on the carriage was talking about it, which was very unusual in itself!

LadyBird1973 · 30/12/2023 20:04

I think the way she was treated was awful. Anger should have been reserved for the photographers who were spying on her and invading her privacy!

Apparently it was Prince Phillip who wouldn't include her in family events after that - as if he was always impeccably behaved. I remember lots of really rude things he did. And when you think about how many of the RF were shagging people besides their spouses, she seemed to be treated quite harshly.

OtherS · 30/12/2023 20:04

TruffleShuffles · 30/12/2023 19:57

Do you think if the same happened with a younger royal nowadays that there would be the same reaction? I just can’t see that it would.

Show quote history

She was the recently separated wife of the monarch's son, so the same position as Meghan is now. I have a feeling that if Meghan announced she was leaving Harry and then a month later was pictured on holiday (with their kids) with some fella's tongue wrapped around her toes there would be an article or two! I think if it was even one of the 'lesser' royals, the tabloids at least would report it.

millymog11 · 30/12/2023 20:05

"A non event for a Kardashian in 2023."

I do think society has become even more hyper sexualised than ever before.

However by the same token I think that some very archaic standards still reside in 2023 when it comes to the royal family and I cannot see that changing.

The one thing which I think has changed in the royal family (probably thanks to the Queen) is the softening of approach to the right to privacy around family life (eg Kate insisting on her children having as "normal" a childhood as possible in contrast to the one Charles had etc). Having said that some others have taken that and made it into an "issue" (eg Harry's campaign around privacy etc).

Blanketpolicy · 30/12/2023 20:07

Ha! I remember that, I was a naïve teenager and couldn't understand why he was even sucking her toes - I got it was naughty in some way, but just yuck!

Corrupted a nation that did! 😉😂

Maireas · 30/12/2023 20:07

LadyBird1973 · 30/12/2023 20:04

I think the way she was treated was awful. Anger should have been reserved for the photographers who were spying on her and invading her privacy!

Apparently it was Prince Phillip who wouldn't include her in family events after that - as if he was always impeccably behaved. I remember lots of really rude things he did. And when you think about how many of the RF were shagging people besides their spouses, she seemed to be treated quite harshly.

Yes but it made the headlines and the pictures were quite shocking. As pp has said, imagine Meghan being caught in such a situation.

WinnieTheW0rm · 30/12/2023 20:09

OtherS · 30/12/2023 20:04

She was the recently separated wife of the monarch's son, so the same position as Meghan is now. I have a feeling that if Meghan announced she was leaving Harry and then a month later was pictured on holiday (with their kids) with some fella's tongue wrapped around her toes there would be an article or two! I think if it was even one of the 'lesser' royals, the tabloids at least would report it.

Show quote history

Entirely hypothetical but:

I think there would be significantly more condemnation of the paparazzo

But similar condemnation if the DC were there. And MN would be in conniptions about introducing DC to new man after only a month.

Theasparrot · 30/12/2023 20:10

Or you could actually read the replies. Directed at those who are critical and haven't bothered reading all the replies.
I have made it absolutely clear that I was wrong in saying that Fergie was pregnant. I have no intention of responding to any more goady posts.
I GOT IT WRONG. I WAS WRONG. MEA CULPA.

Padget · 30/12/2023 20:10

Google may be your friend, but doesn’t give context of people who experienced it 🤨

Maireas · 30/12/2023 20:10

Indeed, @WinnieTheW0rm - plus it was the second new bloke..

2under2in2024 · 30/12/2023 20:11

I can just never get over how disgusting sucking someone's toe would be. I hope the nails had had a good scrub 🤮

I'm 35 so a bit young to remember the public reaction.